Evidence

Highest-yield papers by orthopedic subspecialty — trauma, hand, foot and ankle, peds, spine, joints, shoulder and elbow, sports, oncology. We store the citation and our takeaway. Abstracts live on PubMed when we have a PMID; otherwise we link the DOI, the society page, or a PubMed search. We do not host publisher PDFs.

Intake will harvest the specialty journals on each shelf — JOT, JHS, Spine, AJSM, JOA, and the rest — plus JBJS as the shared flagship. Human triage still decides what is high-yield.42 citations already sit on written subspecialty Topics.

Ortho Trauma

Fractures, reductions, and the night-float mind.

JOT
Injury
OTA
JBJS

Guideline · 2020 · OTA
OTA teaching on femoral shaft nailing and polytrauma timing
Supports early definitive care when physiology allows, with DCO as the safety valve.
PubMed search →Femoral Shaft Fractures
Guideline · 2020 · OTA
OTA teaching on tibial plateau column fixation and staging
Emphasizes column-based fixation after soft-tissue recovery.
PubMed search →Tibial Plateau Fractures
Guideline · 2020 · OTA
OTA teaching resources on ankle fracture stability and fixation sequence
Emphasizes mortise restoration and soft-tissue timing.
PubMed search →Ankle Fractures
Guideline · 2019 · OTA
OTA teaching on damage control orthopedics and conversion to definitive fixation
Emphasizes physiology-driven staging and clear conversion criteria.
PubMed search →Damage Control Orthopedics
Guideline · 2019 · OTA
OTA teaching on humeral shaft fractures and radial nerve palsy
Emphasizes documentation of nerve status and selective operative care.
PubMed search →Humeral Shaft Fractures
Guideline · 2019 · OTA
OTA teaching on pelvic ring stability and acute hemorrhage control
Physiology and mechanical stability drive acute decisions before definitive implants.
PubMed search →Pelvic Ring Fractures
Guideline · 2019 · OTA
OTA teaching on pilon fracture staging and articular reconstruction
Reinforces soft-tissue recovery before definitive plafond reconstruction.
PubMed search →Pilon Fractures
RCT · 2019 · NEJM
Total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture (HEALTH)
HEALTH Investigators
In older patients, THA vs hemiarthroplasty trade-offs depend on function and dislocation risk — not a one-size answer.
PubMed search →Femoral Neck Fractures
Review · 2018 · JAAOS
Distal radius fractures — contemporary evidence and practice patterns
Summarizes modern fixation choices and the limits of radiographic perfectionism.
PubMed search →Distal Radius Fractures
Guideline · 2018 · OTA
OTA / trauma society teaching on acute compartment syndrome recognition and fasciotomy
Emphasizes clinical diagnosis, documentation, and complete releases.
PubMed search →Compartment Syndrome
Guideline · 2018 · OTA
OTA guidance themes on tibial shaft fixation and soft-tissue care
Emphasizes soft-tissue first and alignment goals with modern nailing.
PubMed search →Tibial Shaft Fractures
Guideline · 2018 · OTA
OTA teaching on traumatic hip dislocation and associated acetabular injury
Emphasizes urgent reduction, nerve exam, and CT for operative planning.
PubMed search →Hip Dislocation
Review · 2017 · JAAOS
Intertrochanteric fractures: implant selection and failure modes
Maps unstable patterns to constructs that resist expected collapse modes.
PubMed search →Intertrochanteric Fractures
Review · 2017 · JAAOS
Tibial plateau fractures — soft-tissue management and staged treatment
Supports staged spanning fixation when soft tissue forbids early ORIF.
PubMed search →Tibial Plateau Fractures
Review · 2016 · JAAOS
Pilon fractures — contemporary staged management
Summarizes spanning fixation, delayed ORIF, and complication profiles.
PubMed search →Pilon Fractures
Review · 2016 · JAAOS
Traumatic hip dislocation — evaluation and management
Modern summary of reduction urgency, associated injuries, and post-reduction workup.
PubMed search →Hip Dislocation
Review · 2015 · JAAOS
Humeral shaft fractures — bracing versus operative treatment
Summarizes operative indications and radial nerve decision-making.
PubMed search →Humeral Shaft Fractures
Review · 2015 · JAAOS
Pelvic ring injuries — evaluation and acute management
Summarizes binder use, stability assessment, and pathways for hemorrhage control.
PubMed search →Pelvic Ring Fractures
Guideline · 2014 · AAOS
AAOS clinical practice guideline on management of hip fractures in the elderly
Supports timely surgery and structured decision-making for elderly hip fracture care.
PubMed search →Femoral Neck Fractures
Guideline · 2014 · AAOS
AAOS hip fracture guideline themes relevant to intertrochanteric fixation
Supports timely surgery and careful implant selection in elderly hip fracture care.
PubMed search →Intertrochanteric Fractures
Guideline · 2011 · AAOS
AAOS / OTA clinical guidance on open fracture care (antibiotics and timing principles)
Early systemic antibiotics are a core process measure in open fracture care.
Article →Open Fractures
Guideline · 2009 · AAOS
AAOS clinical practice guideline on treatment of distal radius fractures
Society framework for operative vs nonoperative decision-making in distal radius fractures.
Article →Distal Radius Fractures
RCT · 2008 · JBJS
Study to Prospectively Evaluate Reamed Intramedullary Nails in Patients with Tibial Fractures (SPRINT)
SPRINT Investigators
Landmark trial informing reamed vs unreamed nailing trade-offs in tibial shaft fractures.
PubMed search →Tibial Shaft Fractures
Review · 2007 · JAAOS
Management of syndesmotic ankle injuries
Syndesmotic competence is part of every unstable ankle plan.
PubMed search →Ankle Fractures
Review · 2002 · JOT
Impact of the method of initial stabilization for femoral shaft fractures in patients with multiple injuries
Pape HC et al.
Foundational evidence shaping damage-control vs early definitive fixation thinking in polytrauma.
PubMed search →Damage Control Orthopedics
Review · 2000 · JOT
External fixation as a bridge to intramedullary nailing for patients with multiple injuries and with femur fractures
Scalea TM et al.
External fixation as a bridge remains a core damage-control tool for femoral fractures.
PubMed search →Damage Control Orthopedics
Review · 1999 · JOT
A staged protocol for soft tissue management in the treatment of complex pilon fractures
Sirkin M et al.
Classic staged protocol that reduced soft-tissue disasters in complex pilon care.
PubMed search →Pilon Fractures
Review · 1996 · BJJ
Acute compartment syndrome in tibial diaphyseal fractures
McQueen MM, Christie J, Court-Brown CM
Tibial diaphyseal fractures remain a high-risk setting; vigilance and timing matter.
PubMed search →Compartment Syndrome
Review · 1995 · JAAOS
Ankle fractures resulting from rotational injuries
Michelson JD
Frames ankle fractures as rotational stability problems.
PubMed search →Ankle Fractures
Review · 1995 · BJJ
The epidemiology of tibial fractures
Court-Brown CM, McBirnie J
Frames how common patterns and soft-tissue injury distribute clinically.
PubMed search →Tibial Shaft Fractures
Review · 1995 · JBJS
The value of the tip-apex distance in predicting failure of fixation of peritrochanteric fractures
Baumgaertner MR, Curtin SL, Lindskog DM, Keggi JM
Tip-apex distance remains a core technical teaching point for screw cutout risk.
PubMed search →Intertrochanteric Fractures
RCT · 1989 · JBJS
Early versus delayed stabilization of femoral fractures
Bone LB, Johnson KD, Weigelt J, Scheinberg R
Early stabilization of femoral fractures improved pulmonary outcomes in multiply injured patients.
PubMed search →Femoral Shaft Fractures
Review · 1986 · JBJS
Intra-articular fractures of the distal end of the radius in young adults
Knirk JL, Jupiter JB
Classic link between residual articular incongruity and post-traumatic arthritis in young adults.
PubMed search →Distal Radius Fractures
Review · 1986 · CORR
Pelvic fractures: value of plain radiography in early assessment and management
Young JW, Burgess AR et al.
Young-Burgess mechanism classification remains common communication language.
PubMed search →Pelvic Ring Fractures
Review · 1984 · JBJS
Closed intramedullary nailing of femoral fractures
Winquist RA, Hansen ST, Clawson DK
Landmark series establishing closed IM nailing as modern femoral shaft care.
PubMed search →Femoral Shaft Fractures
Review · 1979 · CORR
The tibial plateau fracture: the Toronto experience
Schatzker J, McBroom R, Bruce D
Origin of the Schatzker classification still used for communication and exams.
PubMed search →Tibial Plateau Fractures
Review · 1977 · JBJS
Functional bracing of fractures of the shaft of the humerus
Sarmiento A et al.
Foundational evidence for functional bracing of humeral shaft fractures.
PubMed search →Humeral Shaft Fractures
Review · 1976 · JBJS
Prevention of infection in the treatment of one thousand and twenty-five open fractures of long bones
Gustilo RB, Anderson JT
Foundational classification language still used for communication and exams.
PubMed search →Open Fractures
Paper · 1975 · CORR
Tissue pressure measurements as a determinant for the need of fasciotomy
Whitesides TE, Haney TC, Morimoto K, Harada H
Foundational thinking on tissue pressure and fasciotomy thresholds.
PubMed search →Compartment Syndrome
Review · 1974 · JBJS
Posterior fracture-dislocations of the hip
Epstein HC
Classic framework for posterior hip fracture-dislocation care and prognosis.
PubMed search →Hip Dislocation
RCT · 1974 · JBJS
The role of antibiotics in the management of open fractures
Patzakis MJ, Harvey JP, Ivler D
Classic evidence supporting early antibiotic administration in open fractures.
PubMed search →Open Fractures
Paper · 1961 · BJJ
Low-angle fixation in fractures of the femoral neck
Garden RS
Origin of the Garden classification still used for communication.
PubMed search →Femoral Neck Fractures